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aerussom_25's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Unrated. I just can’t bring myself to rate these books and I don’t think im going to properly review it either. I don’t typically read middle grade and it’s not made for me any way so I’ll leave it at that.
ejlouws's review against another edition
2.0
Meh. I read this book as a possible book for my 6th grade class to read. It was somewhat interesting to me, as someone with background knowledge on FLW and Chicago. My students, however, would be lost. Even I don't understand what was up pentominoes, nor do I really care to find out (why would someone live their life based on whichever random letters they drew out of their pocket?). There was too many random mystery elements that weren't tied up. I feel that most young people reading it would get bored quickly with this book... I know I did.
abbielester's review against another edition
4.0
Petra, Calder, and Tommy have to figure out how to get along with each other in order to save The Robie House, designed by Frank Loyd Wright. Not as intricate as "Chasing Vermeer" but still a good read.
juice916's review against another edition
3.0
Not as good as Chasing Vermeer, but still a good example of children's literature, primarily because reading this will probably encourage a young reader to want to know more about Frank Lloyd wright.
compass_rose_reads's review against another edition
Giving up on this one. I might have liked it at age 9, but unlike lots of the other YA/Kids books I read, it didn't hold my attention as an adult.
biblioseph's review against another edition
3.0
This was all around fun. Actual mystery which was--for the most part--solved, and peacefully too. There was some fear induced grimacing at the end, but no actual knife-at-the-throat threatening. Clever, more than just a little, I had to scratch my head. I did not get those Pentominoes right away. The characters are very likeable and real. This is what Young Adult is. Interesting and not too bogged down with 'messages'. Yeesh.
You go, Blue!
You go, Blue!
cretzlaff's review against another edition
4.0
We read these aloud with our 8 year old (this and Chasing Vermeer) and loved them. Fun, smart mysteries for kids, set in Hyde Park, Chicago. The children in the book are 6th graders, and I think these might be at too low a reading level for many book-ish 6th graders, BUT would be great for reluctant readers that age because they have codes to crack, including illustrations, and they are fun. The relationships between the kids are nicely complex and have some tension, without being the whole story: so they have a balance between action and relationship.
innatejames's review against another edition
3.0
a good little mystery with a lot of info thrown in about Frank Lloyd Wright.